Ayodhya-A Picture Of Harmony

As curbs ease, devotees throng temples without sloganeering Barah Wafat observed peacefully, shoppers back on streets

- Kumar Abhishek

RELIEF. That’s what security personnel and officials felt in Ayodhya on Sunday — a day after the Supreme Court delivered its historic judgment in the highly sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit.

Devotees flocked to temples and offered prayers amid tight security, though there was some relaxation. Areas near Hanumangarhi and Naya Ghat were busy from the morning.

Bhajans and kirtans echoed in the temple town in the evening.

A sense of confidence and trust seemed to build up in minority dominated areas. Barah Wafat was observed peacefully. Muslims didn't light candles to ensure it was a low-key affair.

People in the Rikabganj area and other parts of the town were seen reading newspapers to understand the nuances of the judgment and also people’s reactions across the country.

On Saturday, the court backed the construction of a Ram temple by a government trust at the disputed site. It also ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque in Ayodhya itself.